Stretching to offer a 'link'

West-sider creates BLACK to push youths to achieve, like her mentor did

West-sider creates BLACK to push youths to achieve, like her mentor did

March 30, 2006|JUDY BRADFORD Tribune Correspondent

SOUTH BEND -- Erica Howard sees a need in the minority community for more mentors and role models. "Some kids just don't have anyone in their life who is pushing them into college or scholarships, supporting them -- or even making sure they get up in time to go to school," says Howard, an Indiana University South Bend student. She and IUSB's Black Student Union are forming an organization called Believe Larger About Change Kindred (BLACK), with the purpose of linking youth with resources that will help them achieve. "This is all about telling students that someone cares," says Howard. "I want to be that link between the creative individual and the resources they need to carry them through." Howard, who lives on the west side of South Bend, started Self-Expression Affair, which are nights dedicated to skits, dance, song, poetry and rap, just to name a few. Designed to provide tasteful cultural events with diversity, they're held on selected Thursdays and Saturdays at the Studio Arts Center, 807 Lincoln Way W. Recently, she also organized a Kids Day event in the Upper Deck at Coveleski Stadium with craft tables, storytellers and other activities so that "kids could just come and be kids." Now, formation of BLACK will try to challenge minority students to achieve all they can, primarily in the academic world. Howard, 31, is forming the group partly out of her own observations and partly out of a gap she says has grown in the community since the 1994 death of Charles Martin Sr. Martin, who was director of the YMCA for 25 years, touched the lives of thousands of youth. He was a leader, a counselor and a friend, and Howard remembers him rallying her and all her classmates in elementary school. "He had us shouting 'achievement, achievement,'æ" she says. "He pushed us and he expected nothing but the best from us. It's amazing how he stretched himself out to all kinds of kids, but you felt like he loved you personally." Erica, who graduated from Riley High School in 1993, is also disturbed by reports of students -- in all schools -- sleeping in class or dropping out. Some of them have to work at night, which is why they're dozing in class, and some of them have parents who are working two jobs and can't support them emotionally or challenge them academically. "I was fortunate to come from a family that never had those problems," says Howard. "My parents were able to fully support me, and so did Charles Martin. I can't just be here and see what's going on, and not do anything." Howard, who is also a single mother with two children, wants to provide her own kids with the best of opportunities too. She is currently working on her bachelor's degree in environmental and public affairs, after having worked full-time as a computer trouble-shooter and as an accounts manager. One of BLACK's first tangible projects will be to raise scholarship money to help a high school senior who wants to seek postsecondary education or training. BLACK is organizing a three-on-three basketball tournament at IUSB's Student Activities Center on an undetermined date. Volunteers are needed to work at the tournament. The scholarship will be for a student who has overcome obstacles to graduate "and doesn't have to be an A or B student." BLACK is also looking "for good people" who have the same goals to help minority youth. So far, BLACK consists of Howard and three others: Ivan Blount, president of IUSB's Black Student Union; Corey McKinney, owner of Elegant Steps, a women's clothing store in South Bend; and Monique Moore, an IUSB student who will be graduating this year and who plans to go into journalism. "Jesus," adds Howard, "is my silent partner." *** Erica Howard can be reached at errhowar@iusb.edu or by calling (574) 302-3483.